News and Analysis
SMBs Face Long Road to Recovery in 2021
Sixty-eight percent of SMBs say they are still experiencing a negative impact from the pandemic, and the percentage of business owners experiencing “significant” impact jumped 7% to 50% from June to November.
Businesses that thought the crisis was heading in the right direction back in October are feeling differently today as they see holiday sales figures begin to roll out, and they’re scrambling to find tools, strategies, and other lifelines to help them get by.
Do Targeted Digital Ads and Privacy Mix?
Concerns about privacy are pervasive in predictions about digital advertising in 2021. The demise of third-party cookies, the passage of a more stringent California state privacy law, and the specter of future legislation in other states or at the national level are driving the topic’s popularity.
I checked in with Philip Smolin, Chief Strategy Officer at ad platform Amobee, to get his take on if and how advertisers can adapt to rising privacy standards while maintaining sustainable business models.
Why More Brands Are Asking for Local Search Data
Google search ad traffic has dropped across all devices, with mobile taking the biggest hit. Mobile traffic has been down an average of 24% since the pandemic began in February. Brands have been adjusting their digital strategies to account for the shift, including changing up their search ads with enhanced location targeting and more relevant keywords.
But achieving that high level of optimization requires a type of local search data that isn’t easily accessible through Google alone. That’s created a hole in the marketplace that the intelligence platform Adthena is looking to fill.
Commentary
Does Google Really Need a Social Network to Succeed at Local?
“The driving vision of Google’s entire local arc is to be able to give a single eyes-free answer to any query with local intent. Social features like reviews, Guides, business owner data, and Q&A are just the means to that end,” writes David Mihm in his biweekly column with Mike Blumenthal.
Performance Partnerships: A Better Way to Define Affiliate Marketing
Performance Partnerships can only exist within a CPA model because the partners win and lose together. This isn’t the case with many of the other channels labeled as performance marketing. Performance Partnerships include everything that people want in their affiliate relationships and exclude all that is undesirable.
As Polls Eagle-Eye News Media, Their Own Work Merits a Close Look
On accuracy, news organizations across the board have to address more forthrightly the public’s concerns about the truthfulness of what is presented. Those concerns do not appear to be as great as expressed in the Gallup/Knight numbers, which exaggerate a widespread talking point about growing distrust in the news media.
Latest Posts
What Does the Bot Bubble Mean for Facebook’s Long Game?
“Facebook has long been a force in post-sale retention and Messenger can really play a huge part as a CRM tool,” Mike Blumenthal tells David Mihm. “I see it as the “real” social network… the one where folks communicate with those closest to them.”
Street Fight Daily: Alexa Now Sets Up 2-Hour Deliveries, Walmart to Make More E-Commerce Acquisitions
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Amazon Extends Alexa’s Voice Shopping Smarts to Include 2-Hour Prime Now Deliveries… Walmart E-Commerce CEO Marc Lore Says the Company Will Make More Acquisitions… Yext Hits $124 Million in Revenues in 2016-2017…
Foursquare Analytics, a Dashboard for Location Intel, Debuts
Today marks the public debut of Foursquare Analytics, a dashboard that puts location intelligence in the hands of brands the company works with. The dashboard, he says, leverages Foursquare’s location tech capabilities for restaurant chains, retailers, and others who need deeper consumer analytics.
InMarket Unveils Program to Recapture Lost Shoppers — And Revenue — for Retailers
The company’s new program identifies consumers who have not visited a partner retailer for a set period of time. This information is then used to put ads in front of the consumer to encourage them to return.
Point Inside Announces Personalization Tool for In-Store Marketing
The new service leverages historical shopping information to allow retailers to serve shoppers more relevant deals on their phones. It is an extension of the company’s StoreMode platform, which upgrades the usefulness of retailers’ branded apps with features like indoor mapping, product location, and store-specific searches.
Street Fight Daily: Uber President Steps Down, Google Increases Brands’ Control Over Online Ads
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Two Executives, Including President Jeff Jones, to Leave Uber… Google Vows More Control for Brands Over Online Ads… Why Samsung Wants to Build a ‘Corporate-Wide AI Voice System’ …
Openings and New Hires at Empyr, Pitney Bowes, and Button
Every two weeks, Geoff Michener covers some of the latest job changes taking place in this dynamic industry. This week’s edition includes moves and new openings at Netsertive, Vendasta, Speakeasy and Tapad.
Street Culture: Cuebiq’s Aggressive Growth Bolstered by Candid Culture
“We are a company that values transparency,” says the company’s CEO, Antonio Tomarchio. “Every month we present to all the people across the company everything that’s going on. I believe that not only it’s the right thing to do, but also that it’s always the best long-term strategy for success.”
Street Fight Daily: Google Tests Voice Ads on Speaker, Pinterest Targets Visual Search Market
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Google Tests Waters of Voice Ads on Speaker… Pinterest Goes After Visual Search Market Share… Alexa is Coming to the iPhone…
xAd Introduces Pay-for-Performance Model, Guaranteeing Offline Store Visits
Location intelligence company xAd today launched a new media buying model called “Cost Per Visit,” which is intended to ensure offline visits at stores by customers — and offer better ROI for brands. Marketers who use “Cost Per Visit” only pay when targeted customers physically go to a store after seeing a mobile ad.
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Meta Is Automating Ads, But Brands Still Face a Bigger Problem